Stop snowing! Emergency school closing days are gone

Hewlett-Woodmere out of time, Lawrence will need to add if closed on March 22

Posted
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 12:13 pm

Four snowstorms in March have resulted in the Hewlett-Woodmere using up its emergency days and Lawrence nearly at that point. Above, Howe Court in Woodmere on March 21.

Courtesy Reneee Nakkab

By Jeff Bessen

After four nor’easter snowstorms in March, the Hewlett-Woodmere School District has expended its allotted number of emergency closing days. The Lawrence district created a 184-day calendar.

The State Education Department mandates that public school be in session for 180 days. All district must report the number of days they use to the SED.

Districts build in emergency closing days into their calendars. Hewlett-Woodmere officials said they planned for three and used four. School will be in session on June 22 to account for the extra used day. Officials said that the “give back” days are noted on the it is noted on the district calendar.

Lawrence Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen said the district’s calendar has 181 instruction days and three staff days. She said the district closed on March 21 “reluctantly” and should school need to be closed on March 22, “Then we have to add a day at the end of the year,” Pedersen said. “Lynbrook [School District] took away Holy Thursday next week.”

The district’s last planned day is Friday, June 22, if Lawrence closed on March 22, Pedersen said they will hold school on June 25, a Monday.

Activities canceled, meeting rescheduled

All after-school and evening activities in the Hewlett-Woodmere district are canceled.

The March 21 Board of Education has been rescheduled for March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Woodmere Education Center at 1 Johnson Place in Woodmere.

A public budget forum will be held at 7 p.m. also at the Woodmere Education Center.